Churchill

Churchill is known primarily for the spendid polar bear viewing in October and November. Less well known is summer in Churchill when you can see wonderful wild flowers, superb bird watching, beluga whales and yes you can still see polar bears.

Located on the edge of the Arctic, Churchill offers the feel of a frontier town with the amenities of an international tourist destination. A unique and accessible Arctic community, polar bears are everywhere – on murals, signs, souvenirs, and sculptures – and the live version occasionally wanders in to town as well! Snowmobiles roar through town in winter and ATVs cruise by in summer. The town of Churchill grew from a remote outpost to a bustling seaport with the construction of the Hudson Bay Railroad and Port of Churchill in the late 1920s. Through much of the 1950s and 1960s, the town was a thriving military community.

Set amid rugged wilderness, life in Churchill today for the 1,000 residents (and thousands of visitors) depends on the latest technology as well as traditional life skills. The community melds tradition and innovation in many ways – the multimillion-dollar Town Centre Complex, for example, features interior walkways lined with brightly coloured Inuit wall hangings and prints.

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office including security and local laws, plus passport and visa information, check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice